DEPUTY Premier Andrew Stoner gave a taste of what regional NSW could expect in next week’s budget when he announced today that a billion dollars would be spent on new dams, roads and tourism infrastructure.
Speaking at the NSW Nationals conference in Queanbeyan this morning, Mr Stoner previewed some of the highlights of next week’s budget, including:
- $325 million reserved for the Water Security for the Regions program to fund infrastructure works that secure water supplies and drought-proof regional communities
- $110 million for a new Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund
- $50 million for a new Western NSW Freight Productivity program
Mr Stoner said there would be “even better news to come for regional communities in the budget.”
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals government is investing in the regions by building the high quality infrastructure our communities need,” Mr Stoner said.
He said the recent drought in parts of the Northern Tablelands, Central West and North Coast, showed water security was a major issue.
“That is why earlier this year we introduced Water Security for Regions, funded through Restart NSW, to exclusively fund regional water infrastructure projects.
“In the 2014-15 budget we will boost this funding by $325 million.”
Part of the money will go toward work on a new dam on the Belubula River in the State’s Central West – otherwise known as the Needles Dam – the first dam built in Western NSW in almost 30 years, Mr Stoner said.
“With an initial construction cost estimate of about $150 million, we will be looking to partner with the Commonwealth and local council to make this project a reality.”
Mr Stoner said a new $110 million tourism fund would allow regional destinations to develop their potential by investing in critical visitor economy infrastructure, such as airport upgrades and cruise and rail infrastructure.
“Following the release of the Casino to Murwillumbah Rail Trail Study, I have asked Infrastructure NSW to assess whether the Northern Rivers Rail Trail should be the first project to receive a financial contribution from this fund.
“If approved, the project will convert the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line, which was closed by Labor in 2004, into a major tourist attraction that will draw tens of thousands of visitors from across Australia and overseas for years to come.”
The new Western NSW Freight Productivity Program would see sealing, widening and other improvement works done on the Cobb Highway, Silver City Hwy and other freight corridors in the Far West.
